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Planting Seeds

July 10, 2011 By Michele Woodward Leave a Comment

Take a seed.

Put it in some dirt. Maybe add some compost.

Now, water it.

Then, do the hardest part: walk away.

I mean it, walk away.

Because if you worry whether the seeds are germinating, doubt whether they’re growing – pull them up to check the progress? You’ll kill the plant.

Growing things calls for patience.

Even if it’s growing your career, your business, your practice, your network. Your love life, your family, your friendships. Whatever you’re growing, you need patience, baby.

And you need to plant seeds. Every single day.

Plant plenty, because we all know that some seeds will not grow. Too much water, too much sun, not enough water, not enough sun – there are many reasons seeds don’t take root.

But you can’t take it personally. Just plant so many seeds that a few duds won’t make any difference.

Just keep planting, even in the most unlikely places.

Because some seeds can thrive in an improbable inch of dirt in a random crack in the sidewalk.

Want a new job as a lawyer? Talk to your periodontist.

Want to meet a new person? Ask the yoga instructor.

Need to meet someone at XYZ, Inc.? You’d be surprised to know that the softball coach’s younger brother is the CEO there.

Plant those seeds and water them with generosity and genuine kindness.

Let them develop roots.

Let them flourish and grow.

And when it’s time to harvest, you will have a bumper crop.

Filed Under: Authenticity, Books, Career Coaching, Getting Unstuck Tagged With: career, career strategy, Connector Strategy, getting a job, networking, relationships

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Fred @ SoloBizCoach.com says

    July 10, 2011 at 7:01 pm

    This is great advice Michele. It is so important that you talk to people about your goals. Unless you shares your desires with others, they will not know that you are looking for help. People love to make connections.

    Reply
    • Michele Woodward says

      July 10, 2011 at 8:06 pm

      Thanks, Fred. Nice to “meet” ya. 🙂

      Reply
  2. Claudia Hall Christian says

    July 10, 2011 at 7:03 pm

    After years as a gardener, what I’ve learned is that I can trust the seed to do what it needs to do. Now it’s the seeds turn to die or thrive. I’ve set up the environment to allow it to grow – I’ve done my part. With deep respect, I turn the seed over to do what it needs to do. If a seed dies, and trust me they do, I just plant another. I’m not ego or emotionally attached to it’s cause and effect.

    In life, however, doubt creeps. Did I do enough? Did I put enough compost there? Should I put more of my tremendous energy into that or this or some other thing? Doubt festers to feed impatience which brings the ‘not enough’s. In life, I’m emotionally attached to my seeds – but I loved this person; that thought was brilliant; I put a lot of effort here or there; and it died! It died! I mope around, blame myself, blame the world, and stop planting for a while.

    I wonder how I learn to trust the soil of my life as much as I trust the soil of my gardens.

    Reply
    • Michele Woodward says

      July 10, 2011 at 8:05 pm

      Imagine yourself a modern Johnny Appleseed, Claudia. With relationships, or opportunities, or anything… just plant the seed, and as you said, “…trust the seed to do what it needs.” And also trust yourself to do what you need. Because you’re the gardener of your life, are you not? 🙂

      Reply

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